Washington ready to revoke visas for Chinese students linked to sensitive sectors

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announces restrictive measures against students from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong, as part of a tightening of immigration and academic security policies in the US

The United States is preparing to revoke the visas of thousands of Chinese students in the country. The announcement comes from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who explained how the State Department, in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security, will apply new restrictive measures against those who have ties to the Chinese Communist Party or are enrolled in courses in sectors defined as ‘critical’.

Without specifying which academic fields are involved, Rubio stressed that the initiative is part of the Trump administration’s strategic orientation, aimed at ‘prioritising the interests of the United States, not those of China’.

New criteria for visas from China and Hong Kong
In addition to revoking permits already issued, the US administration also plans to review the criteria for granting visas to students from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong. The aim, Rubio said, is to strengthen future controls and prevent infiltration or interference in sensitive areas of the US education and science system.

An announcement that follows growing tensions
The decision comes a few days after criticism from Beijing, which accused Washington of wanting to politicise the academic world. The Chinese authorities lashed out against the temporary ban on the admission of foreign students to Harvard University for the 2025-2026 academic year, a measure that was later suspended by a federal judge.

In the broader context, the US measure is part of a series of punitive actions taken against American universities accused of violating presidential executive orders, especially following pro-Palestinian protests that erupted on numerous campuses against Israeli intervention in Gaza. The State Department had already revoked visas for foreign students considered to be organisers or promoters of the demonstrations.

China’s protest: ‘Political and discriminatory decision’
Beijing’s reaction was immediate, calling Washington’s move an ‘unfair decision’. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning openly condemned the new restrictions, saying that the United States is compromising the legitimate rights of Chinese students under the ‘pretext of ideology’ and ‘national security’.

‘China strongly opposes this decision,‘ Mao said, stressing that the initiative will only further damage the United States’ international reputation and credibility. According to Beijing, this is a discriminatory and political act that undermines normal academic relations between the two powers.

Diplomatic tensions and an uncertain future for students
The initiative marks a new chapter in the already complex relationship between Washington and Beijing, now extended to the field of education. The implications for thousands of students currently in the United States remain unclear, as does the impact on future visa applications.

Meanwhile, the international academic community is watching with growing concern as a story unfolds that intertwines diplomacy, security and educational freedom.

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